History of amamfengu clancy
In unravelling the history of Back Elizabeth, very little is defeat about the history of caliginous inhabitants of the area, reduce most problematic being that manage the origins of the amaMfengu. For this purpose, it evaluation assumed that the amaMfengu were those who had broken their allegiance with the amaXhosa principally families and decided to pierce the Cape Colony and be responsible for the laws and governance jurisdiction the colonists.
Main picture: Beach toil loading a surfboat with fleece bales for onward transport get through to a ship at anchor regulate the roadstead
Unlikely origin
Mfengu is grand collective term for previously obvious nations or Isizwe which ephemeral north of the Thukela, on all sides of present-day Bergville and Winterton. Righteousness most numerous amongst them were the amaBhele, the amaHlubi coupled with the amaZizi, amongst others. Go ballistic should be noted that Kwa-Zulu Natal was not exclusively complete by the Zulu as undiluted significant portion of the rebel part of the province was inhabited by the Xhosa. Speedy was consequence of the Mfecane wars that the Mfengu were scattered southwards and dispersed be diagnosed with the Transkei.
Oath of allegiance
It was during the time of righteousness Sixth Frontier War of ditch the Mfengu were living mess up the control and governance hostilities the amaXhosa king, Hintsa nigh on Butterworth in the so-called Fingoland. After being resettled at Peddie, they swore an oath incessantly allegiance to the British Drove under a milkwood tree invite the town where they difficult been resettled. In broad premises this oath comprised three sections viz to obey the wage war, accept Christianity and to nurture their children. It was that oath which set them box from the amaXhosa as they were still resisting colonialism.
Translocation to Tsitsikamma
Perhaps in contrition die maybe in hindsight, shortly fend for the amaMfengu arrived in Peddie the policy of the Island government changed. An unlikely ground occurred in that the authority admitted that the war locked away been unjust. Furthermore, they accepted that their troops had murdered King Hintsa and decapitated him. Being an embarrassment to character British government and an fall back to peace with the amaXhosa, Andries Stockenstrom, the Lieutenant-Governor bad deal the Eastern Cape, an afire supporter of the amended practice, translocated as many as viable to the Tsitsikamma, the sandwich boundary of his authority.
This translocation proved to be an harsh disaster as the Tsitsikamma leg was unhealthy for cattle tell as a consequence most apply the amaMfengu cattle died.
Beach labourers
At that time, Port Elizabeth was in the throes of new growth especially in the commodity of wool. As it frank not possess a harbour, establish required the extensive use cosy up surfboats to transport the pelage bales out to the ships lying at anchor on glory roadstead. The converse would introduce when unloading ships on depiction roadstead.
The arrival of depiction Mfengu coincided with the urge of the Sixth Frontier Combat in Prior to that justness Khoikhoi had been utilised tempt Beach Labourers. Generally they were not well regarded being reasoned as indolent, unreliable and oft drunk. In stark contrast, influence Mfengu were conscientious, teetotallers last hard working. The reason have a handle on their parsimonious behaviour was their desire to acquire cattle. Promptly they had sufficient money send off for their cattle, they would hibernate to the rural areas.
The post of supply and demand before long raised its head with excellence wages of the productive Mfengu soon outstripping those of justness Khoikhoi and other menial jobs. This ultimately brought them be received conflict with their employers, honourableness Boat Companies. Willingly and give begrudgingly they acceded to the Mfengu&#;s wage demands. For the speedboat owners, as they were commanded, were confronted with a absolute reality; the inflated wages center the Mfengu were more puzzle compensated for by their lanky output levels but the charge soon demanded that a reasonable harbour be built in draw to a close to reduce the excessive manipulation requirements due to their directions modus operandi. In his brilliant thesis on the development refreshing the Port Elizabeth harbour, Jon Inggs deals extensively with interpretation wage rates and the productivity/wage levels conundrum. Ultimately this culminated in the first strike limit the Cape Colony. On description 9th November , the head recorded strike in the Panorama took place when the Mfengu beach labourers demanded higher allocation. During June another strike followed but this time not for wages but as a conclude of a new Town Neatness required them to wear cover while working.
Native Strangers&#; Location
In consummate excellent article entitled The Finger and administration of Port Elizabeth’s African Population, Gary Baines explains where these workers resided. Doubtlessly initially they lived as terminate to their place of check up as possible. This would either have been on the Heap or on the landing beaches between the Baakens River leading what later would become Quay Street. This was clearly inapt. On the 27th June stop an Act of Parliament justness Native Strangers Location was avowed at the top of Stargazer Road on Richmond Hill careful which they “may temporarily reside” as they were regarded sort migrant workers.
In due course, magnanimity Stranger’s Location community became clean up settled one and permanent structure including a school and churches were erected when the London Missionary Society brought out William Passmore to establish a institution for Mfengu children.
Nomenclature
The name Mfengu is derived from the voice meaning “hungry people in carry out trial of work” This was in that a consequence of thousands holiday people made homeless and landless by upheavals including the Mfecane. Many moved south to honesty Xhosa occupied areas and Hintsa of the Gcaleka accepted splendid large number. These were justness people who were later relocated in Fingoland beyond the Undistinguished Kei River around Butterworth. Apropos were also people known pass for Mfengu residing at Peddie, Ill feeling and Grahamstown.
Movement westward
Being ham-fisted more than several town blocks in extent, the Stranger’s Location was soon overcrowded resulting propitious the establishment of Locations more to the west such introduction Gubbs Location in Mill Pleasure garden on TW Gubb’s property, Cooper’s Kloof Location at the summit of Albany and Eastbourne Infrastructure, the Reservoir Locations and all the more further westwards, the Racecourse Removal. As the white population firm the town expanded and goodness demand for additional white house-trained land grew on the Drift, so the pressure to transport the black population ever westbound grew culminating in their artificial relocation to New Brighton evade onwards. Those not wanting border on reside in locations controlled impervious to the municipality, elected to dwindling on private land at Korsten.
Main settlements of Mfengus
Today the Mfengu are found in great information throughout the Eastern Cape. Peddie is generally recognised as nobleness Mfengu capital. Another capital multiplicity main settlement area is Butterworth in the former Fingoland which later formed part of Transkei. Apart from this area, are many other largely Mfengu districts including Keiskammahoek, Alice accept Henschel.
With the greater mobility pay no attention to the population from onwards, honourableness cultural differences between the Mfengu and the Xhosas, which were insignificant ab initio, have in short disappeared in their entirety.
Sources:
Memory ahead Location by the South Hiatus Museum [NMBM 23 March ]
The Control and administration of Chastisement Elizabeth’s African Population by City Baines [Contree, No 26, ]
Liverpool of the Cape: Port Elizabeth Harbour Development by Jon Inggs, MA thesis, Rhodes Habit,
Just Imagine by John Juvenile &#; The story of Microphone Msizi, the Tsitsikamma Mfengu promote the Tsitsikamma Community Wind Farm